Cool gift!

123

While the prospect of yet another major holiday spent in Afghanistan is enough to thoroughly depress me, sometimes a good thing happens.

Several months ago, I was walking to our little plywood office here at Bagram. As I passed the latrines, I noticed a woman emerging from the female side, busily struggling with a Galco shoulder holster. Since I have assembled more Galco shoulder holsters than most people, I asked her if she needed help. She accepted my assistance gratefully. After I got her shoulder holster adjusted properly, we chatted a bit. I learned her name, Sheila, and where she worked on Bagram. I gave her some extra harness screws for her holster, and she was off. I thought little more of it.

A few weeks later, she came to me for advice on a purchase for one of her colleagues, a fellow who is very interested in guns and shooting. I helped her select a gift for him, and again she was very pleased with my assistance. She took to calling me the "gun guy." A few days before Thanksgiving, she delivered a tray of baked goods sent from America, as a "thank you." Those muffins disappeared quickly!

A few days ago, I walked into the office and found at my desk both another tray of muffins and a small, gift-wrapped box. Inside the box was something called a Jefferson Cup, crafted from pewter. A card from Sheila accompanied the cup. In part, it read:

...Prior to the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson received from his dear friend George Wythe two silver candlesticks...Prior to Jefferson's death, he was distributing his wealth. He gave the candlesticks to his silversmith and told him to make eight cups in the design you have. When Jefferson was giving the cups to his heirs, he told them:

"When you look on these cups remember that there was a time when our country was not free and bowed before men. When you drink from this cup, always remember you are drinking from the cup of freedom, and are a nation that only bows before God."

Thank you for serving on the Frontline of Freedom and may you always drink from the cup of freedom.

Okay, I'm impressed!

But further, as I unwrapped the cup from its foam packaging, I see that she has had it engraved: Mike Barham - Gun Guy - Afghanistan.

This is a great gift, and from an entirely unexpected quarter. Why aren't there more people like this? I think I will save my first drink from the Jefferson Cup until I get home. Then I shall pour wine into it, and truly drink from the Cup of Freedom.

Thanks

That was a great story - I will clip it and re-read it often!
The woman in the story is a helluva human.
Yes we need more like her. But honestly, we need more like yourself too - doesnt sound like you were expecting anything in return for your kindness, but as always, it has come back on you moreover. God sends many people across our paths every day - seems like this one was particularly special.

And yes, Thank You and everyone who serves to fight evil in this world.